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Michael was held in high esteem across the county

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7 months ago

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SADNESS: Tributes have been paid to the late Michael O’Donoghue from Clonkeen.

A tribute by Pat Favier

The death of Michael O'Donoghue (81), Killeen, Clonkeen on Thursday last, brings to an end a remarkable lifetime of community service in Glenflesk parish.

A dairy and sheep farmer, Michael joined the local branch of Muintir na Tire at a young age, later becoming an active member of the ICMSA.

As a representative of the ICMSA, Michael was twice elected to the board of Kerry Co-op. He promoted the establishment of local drama and light entertainment in the early '60s and '70s by helping to launch the Clonkeen Drama Group which subsequently evolved into the 'Tops of the Parish' and 'Tops of the Clubs'.

Michael's unparalleled contribution to community life in Glenflesk was particularly evident in his dedication to the GAA.

Since attending his first All-Ireland final in 1956 when he crossed the field from his home to board the train at Loo Bridge Station, Michael had been an indefatigable supporter of Glenflesk, East Kerry and Kerry teams for eight decades.

As a player, administrator, supporter and mentor Michael embodied all that is best in the GAA. He was the club's first chairman of Bord na nOg and he also served three terms as chairman of the senior board.

His greatest sporting satisfaction occurred in the year 2000 when the Sam Maguire cup was brought to Glenflesk by Seamus Moynihan and John Crowley, and later the same year when Glenflesk won the Millennium Cup.

During his first term as chairman Michael was conscious of the need to provide permanent playing facilities for the youth of the parish.

For many years the club had been dependent on the kindness of local farmers to provide a field for training and playing games.

The last temporary venue was at Murphy's field in Knockanes for which Michael secured the goal posts from his neighbour Jimmy Cronin. He oversaw the purchase and development of suitable grounds at Curreal and he was a proud man when St Agatha's Park was officially opened in 1976.

In a fitting finale, as Michael's remains were lowered to their final resting place in Killaha Graveyard under the shadow of O'Donoghue's Castle on Saturday morning, resounded the strains of 'Glenflesk of You We Are Proud'.

He was pre-deceased by his wife Anne (nee O'Driscoll) and sister Lily. He is sadly missed by this loving family, son Fionnan, daughters Mary, Sinéad, Mairéad and Michelle, daughter-in-law Alison, sons-in-law John and Peter, his grandchildren Alexandra, Buster, Isabelle, Shane, Abby and Luke, brothers Paddy and John, sisters Margaret, Kathleen and Anna, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Condolences to all the O’Donoghue family and may Michael’s soul rest in peace.

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Developing St Finan’s “cost prohibitive” – Council

Converting the idle St Finan’s hospital into social housing is cost-prohibitive according to Kerry County council officials. The historic building has been lying idle since it closed in September 2012. […]

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The historic building has been lying idle since it closed in September 2012.

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So far no realistic offer has been made on the site despite suggestions that it could be used for social housing, a catering college and a hotel.

Each year the building, which was built in the 1850s, falls into further disrepair.

There were fresh calls again this week as local councillors called for some sort of action to redevelop the site that is fast becoming an eyesore.

At last Friday’s Killarney Municipal District meeting councillors called for action at the site .

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A Kerry County Council official told the meeting that any works to potentially convert the old hospital into social housing “would be cost prohibitive.”

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Eight month wait for a driving test in Killarney

A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at […]

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A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney

The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at eight months.

Cllr John O’Donoghue raised the issue at Monday’s full meeting of Kerry County Council.

He proposed that driving instructors should be employed to carry out the final test to reduce the current backlog.

At Monday’s meeting he asked that hat Kerry County Council would write to the Minister for Transport to ask him to consider giving driving instructors temporary powers to issue a temporary Driving Licence/Certificate of Competence to those on the waiting list for tests.

“The wait is currently far too long and the system is in danger of becoming completely overwhelmed,” he said.

“The huge waiting list for young drivers is well documented at this stage. In a case I am familiar with, a young person passed their theory test in January 2022 and he immediately applied for his mandatory 12 driving lessons. When these were completed, he applied for his driving test on the 2nd of December 2022. Some weeks ago, he still had not received an application to apply for his driving test. This wait is placing him and his family under considerable extra cost and stress which is completely unacceptable.”

In the course of his research into the matter Cllr O’Donoghue discovered that the next available date for a driving test in Killarney is May 25, 2024, while Tralee is June 3 2024.

“Bear in mind, these are only the dates on which you receive an invitation to book your test, the test itself will then be an estimated three to five weeks later.

“This is an appalling situation and one which needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency. I am proposing that driving instructors, which presumably are fully trained up on the rules of the road, be granted temporary powers to be allowed to issue temporary driving licences to young people. When the waiting list time has been reduced, I would still propose that these people sit the test as usual, but the current pressure needs to be alleviated as soon as possible. There is precedent as I believe that in the 1970s, a cohort in this country were issued driving licences without having sat a test as the wait time for the test was too long.”

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